Light sentencing in Ireland re crime

[LadyEloise1]

Anyone else sick of the light sentences given in Ireland for crime.
I've just seen that a man who raped and sexually abused his youngest sister starting when she was 6 and he was 12 was given 7 and a half year sentence for the rapes. He was given consecutive sentences totalling 5 years for the sexual assaults but the judge decided that sentence would run concurrently with the 7 year term. FFS !!!
Apparently his remorse (yeah right ), the fact he pleaded guilty and he had no previous convictions were mitigating factors. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence, despite the judge saying that the victim was a vulnerable and defenceless child, the offences were humiliating and degrading, that the victim had a right to bodily integrity and that she lived in fear.
Will this child rapist be out in 3 years ?
I am utterly disgusted with this sentence.

[LookItsMeAgain]

Yes!

This drives me absolutely crazy.

I honestly believe that if you do the crime, you do the time...ALL OF IT. Not concurrently, but consecutively.

These criminals do 18 months behind bars and are out again and repeatedly offend so they would be better off staying behind bars.

What ever happened with the "Super Prison" that the government spent WAYYYY over the odds on the land for but never turned over a single sod of earth to build? It'd probably go the same way as the Children's hospital that STILL hasn't opened but is the worlds most expensive hospital to build.

By the perpetrator of these offenses basically saying "Sorry, I didn't mean to do it" (showing remorse) they are getting lighter sentences.
It's a joke!

[TaTuirseOrm]

I too thought this was a very light sentence given the extent and length of time the abuse continued.

Two particular sentences in the Indo article struck me:
The judge said if the offending had been committed when Paul Mohan was an adult, the headline sentence would be 14 years - well no.1 it continued until he was 21, so an adult for at least three years! And also, he raped her in 2004 when he was 24. Surely deserving of a consecutive sentence in its own?

His barrister said ... he was of previous good character Eh, how can they say that??? He started the abuse when he was 12 yrs old.

Well done to Annette Mohanfor being so strong and coming out in public. I hope she lives a long, happy life now he has been held accountable for his actions when she was a child.

[LadyEloise1]

We had the politicians out in force when Ashling Murphy was murdered.
Wringing their hands in despair.
They are the legislators.
Why oh why don't they ban concurrent sentences.
Why oh why can they not introduce tough sentences that match the crimes committed ?

Annette Mohan was so so brave going public. I hope she has great support.

[bythebanksof]

As some people know, I'm working in this space it is indeed really depressing, but I hate saying it, I'm almost used to it now. It is much worse than you realize.

It really is only in recent years that these topics reached mainstream attention. Previously, newspapers would only publish a brief report on the most outrageous cases, and TV/radio would never mention them.

Today, there is some limited national newspaper headlines, but they don't include the level of detail/information/context that they possibly should to really inform the public. Local newspapers essentially don't/won't report on these topics.

[LadyEloise1]

@bythebanksof

I would love to know why.
Why our judicial system is so soft on crime.
Why victim's rights appear to be secondary.
Why the majority of people are decent, law abiding citizens and yet they are let down by the legal system time and time again.
Why politicians do so little to change this god awful system but make so many promises pre election time.

[bythebanksof]

Why? Like everyone, I'll have my pet theories. With respect to violence against women, I really think it's a combination of us (society of women of Ireland) not being well informed enough, being too passive and accepting things as we struggle with other priorities. Frankly, it's also easier to ignore these things.

I thought at different times like after the Kerwick case, the Cratloe case, the Roche-Kelly case, that things might change, but ... no ... There will be a lot out outrage as a result of the current case in Croke Park, but that will dissipate quickly too.

Regardless, I think the system is better now, than in the more recent decades. However, that's totally due to very brave selfless individuals, and a small amount of campaigners/organizations.

Those of you old enough to remember the Lavinia Kerwick will know that was pivotal. Only her personal bravery, and a supportive radio personality. brought that to national attention. The same with the RCC and their activism.

Finally sentencing is just one aspect, and it is too late. There needs to be a lot more done on prevention, reporting, policing and scheme's like Clare's Law.

[LadyEloise1]

👏🏻*@bythebanksof*

I do remember the Lavinia Kerwick case and the awful ( imho ) Judge Paul Carney and I remember the "issue" at the Shelbourne Hotel.

It's like groundhog day- nothing has changed really

[LadyEloise1]

Another, to my mind at least, light sentence handed out to sexual offender lately - a man raped and sexually assaulted his 8 years younger sister over a number of years.

He was sentenced to 4 years and six months but this was shortened to 3 years.

Appalling justice.

[honeyrider]

@LadyEloise1

👏🏻*@bythebanksof*

I do remember the Lavinia Kerwick case and the awful ( imho ) Judge Paul Carney and I remember the "issue" at the Shelbourne Hotel.

It's like groundhog day- nothing has changed really

Judge Paul Carney presided over the majority of rape cases and the way he dealt with some of the alleged victims was disgraceful including how the pregnant victim of an alleged gang rape was treated by him.

As for Judge Martin Nolan he's a disgrace to those seeking justice.

[LadyEloise1]

It actually wasn't Martin Nolan this time.
Our very woke Minister for Justice is on Drivetime this evening. I wish she'd do something.

[honeyrider]

@LadyEloise1

It actually wasn't Martin Nolan this time.
Our very woke Minister for Justice is on Drivetime this evening. I wish she'd do something.

She was on Newstalk in the last hour, I think she'll do something.

[LadyEloise1]

3 years jail time. Which will no doubt be reduced.
The victim was between 7 and 8 and a half at the time.
The perpetrator was between 15 and a half and 17 at the time.
An appalling litany of crime against a wee girl.
I just don't understand why we have such soft sentencing.

I have such admiration for Aoife for her strength in going public in the hope it might help other victims to come forward and that her brother is named publicly.

[LadyEloise1]

A 61 year old man sexually assaulted a 16 year old girl travelling alone on a Ryanair flight.
He was handed a suspended sentence of 18 months by Judge Martin Nolan.

[LadyEloise1]

A 35 year old man who filmed himself sexually abusing a baby boy is jailed for 4 years.
He was, according to to s report in The Irish Times, facing a maximum life sentence for the defilement charge, a maximum sentence of 5 years for the possession charge and up to 14 years on each of the other three charges including producing child pornography, distributing child pornography and using communication technology to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child.
Judge Tom O' Donnell sentenced the offender Jamie Marshall to just 6 years and the final two years were suspended.

Why such a light sentence ?
It's heartbreaking.
I am so angry for that poor wee victim.
For the little victim's family.
What is wrong with our judges ?
Where is their empathy ?
Their morality ?
4 f*cking years 🥲